397 released from Burail jail so far

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 15

To decongest jail amid the Covid-19 pandemic, 397 prisoners have been released from Model Jail, Burail, so far.

The step was taken by the Prisons Department on the directions of Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority (SLSA).

Action-taken report

As per the action-taken report pertaining to the release of prisoners submitted to Justice Jaswant Singh on Monday, of the total 1,007 prisoners, including 420 convicts, 583 undertrials and four children with their mothers, 39.42 per cent of them have been released from the jail on parole or interim bails till June 14.

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As per the action-taken report pertaining to the release of prisoners submitted to Justice Jaswant Singh on Monday, of the total 1,007 prisoners, including 420 convicts, 583 undertrials and four children with their mothers, 39.42 per cent of them have been released from the jail on parole or interim bails till June 14.

As per the directions received from the Supreme Court on the release of prisoners amid the Covid-19 pandemic, 220 undertrial prisoners were considered for release, but 188 were released on special interim bails. Similarly, 356 convicted prisoners were considered for parole, but only 209 of them fulfilled the criteria. Out of them, as many as 22 convicts have been released on the completion of sentence or on regular parole.

Out of the total 576 prisoners considered for release, the authorities ordered to release 484 prisoners, but actually 397 prisoners were released from the jail.

The report stated that 87 prisoners could not be released. However, the special parole applications of 62 convicts were rejected, while special parole applications of 30 convicts were pending.

Parole and interim bails of the convicts and undertrials, who were released since March 27, were extended last month with extension in the period of the lockdown. They have been asked to return on the conclusion of their parole and interim bails in a staggered manner from July 2 to July 23.

The undertrials and convicts were released from the Burail jail on special parole and special interim bail initially for 60 days. Later, the period was extended.

At least 31 prisoners had undergone their sentence during a Special Lok Adalat held for those involved in petty crimes.